'SNL' is back, announces more hosts and musical guests for Season 49
"Saturday Night Live" has returned to studio 8H for its 49th season amid the continued Hollywood actors' strike.
The NBC sketch comedy show kicked off Oct. 14 with Pete Davidson as host and Ice Spice as the musical guest and featured surprise cameos by Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift (separately). While there were plenty of jokes at the expense of the NFL and Davidson himself, the episode started on a serious note.
Addressing the camera directly, Davidson opened the show talking about the Israel-Hamas war. There was a lot in the news for the cast and writers to catch up on during the broadcast since its last episode five months ago, from "Barbie" to Will and Jade Pinkett Smith, Taylor Swift mania and Donald Trump. (The series was off the air due to the Writers Guild of America strike.)
"Yes, please!" Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift make cameos in strike-delayed "SNL" season opener
Upcoming guests on 'SNL' include Bad Bunny, Foo Fighters
On Oct. 21, Bad Bunny will serve as both host and musical guest.
On Oct. 17, the show announced comedian Nate Bargatze, who's currently on his “Be Funny” tour, will host for the first time on Oct. 28. He'll be joined by nine-time "SNL" musical guest Foo Fighters.
More hosts and musical guests will be announced as Season 49 is underway.
Why 'SNL' can film during the SAG-AFTRA strike
The Oct. 14 episode was "SNL's" first since dual writers' and actors' strikes put a halt on TV and film productions. Other late-night TV shows, such as "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," returned soon after the Writers Guild of America and movie studios reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 24 to end the WGA strike, which lasted nearly five months.
For those wondering why "SNL" can return while SAG-AFTRA remains on strike, the union said in a statement that "members appearing on Saturday Night Live either as hosts, guests or cast members are working under the Network Code agreement, which is not a contract we are striking."
"They are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations," the statement read.
"I am enough": Pete Davidson parodies 'Barbie' 'I'm Just Ken' music video on "SNL"
The Hollywood actors' strike is nearing the three-month mark, while the screenwriters' strike officially ended Oct. 9, when 99% of WGA members voted in favor of ratifying the three-year contract deal agreed upon in September by the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies.
"The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order," WGA's statement about "SNL" reads.
"The majority of our members who are regular cast on Saturday Night Live had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producers exercise their option which the producers have done."
Contributing: Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY
With a 99% "yes" vote, Hollywood writers officially ratify new contract with studios that ended 5-month strike
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' announces 2023 guests, including Bad Bunny and Foo Fighters
